tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31163129774848446332018-05-27T19:13:31.464-06:00Soft Rock MamaI write to remember the days.Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-86138272431935744192013-02-05T21:17:00.000-07:002013-02-05T21:17:15.852-07:00TimeYears have passed.<br />Things change.<br /><br />Life marches on. Or as it feels, comes to a screeching halt.<br /><br />This is not for you reader, but for her. For my daughter. The one female who I have loved to the ends of the earth. The one who's heart I have crushed. The one who has crushed my heart. The one who I carried inside of me for over 41 weeks. The first one to call me Mama. My one, my only girl.<br /><br />My Daughter, MIJ<br /><br />My girl, who I have not seen in nearly ten months. But of whom I think of daily, hourly - constantly.<br /><br /><br />MIJ, I know you don't understand my choices, hell at times I don't even understand them. But in my heart, in our hearts...you know, we know. You know why I left. Looking back I should have had a more thoughtful plan. I never imagined it would be like this. I NEVER had intentions of leaving you and little A! No never.<br />I left your father, our sham of a marriage. I knew from the time I was four months pregnant with your younger brother that things wouldn't work. I knew. But I stayed on for another eight and a half years trying to do what was 'right'. But it didn't work. It was never going to work. Right can't be made.<br /><br />Imagining all the things I have missed breaks my heart.<br />First dance<br />First crush<br />First heartbreak<br />Struggles<br />Joy<br />Celebrations<br />Breakfasts<br />Lunches<br />Dinners<br />Talks at bedtimes<br />Anger<br />Smiles<br />Tears<br />Zits<br />Periods<br />Exploration of the new<br />Mean girls<br />First day of high school<br />Daily life<br />School projects<br />Boys<br />Watching your beauty grow<br />...such an incomplete list<br /><br /><br />All I have for you is love.<br />And fear.<br />I fear that this rift will not heal. I fear that I fucked up beyond repair. I fear not being able to make it right. I fear you. I fear me. I fear the anger and resentment. I fear my failure. I fear the ache of not having you in my daily life. I fear passing on this fucked up baton and not breaking the cycle that has been passed down from previous generations.<br /><br />But more importantly dear daughter, I have love. Love that will never dissipate. Love that comes from a place deep inside, from my womb, from my heart, from the very fiber of my being. I thought that having love was enough, but it isn't.<br />Less than two weeks ago I stumbled upon a phrase of sorts that rocked my world, changed my view of 'love' -- it was, "Love is time" and that dear daughter is where I have failed, along with a thousand other places.<br />Time<br />I robbed us of time, unknowingly of love - breaks my heart, crushes my brain to have this simple truth brought to my realization. Makes me sick.<br />Whats worse, I don't know how to repair it - and yet that is the one thing i want more than ANYTHING!<br />I will never give up. I will try new ways. I will make sure that my word and my actions align. I will show you love until I can bestow love upon you. I have never wanted anything more than to have you and your brother happy. Truly happy. I have two living children in this world. And both of you are going to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that your mama loves you.<br /><br />Saying I am sorry will never be enough. But I am. I am so very very sorry.<br /><br />Here are a few thoughts that keep me going and I want to share with you...<br />*Life always offers you a second chance. It's called tomorrow.<br />*Your belief determines your action and your action determines your results, but first you have to believe.<br />*Obstacles can't stop you, Problems can't stop you, Most of all other people can't stop you. The only one who stops you is yourself.<br />*Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things<br />*What screws us up in life is the picture in our head of how it is supposed to be<br />*There is always somebody that loves you. Always! (baby girl, I will always love you...always!)<br />*Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.<br />*...but if you never try. You'll never know.<br />*Sometimes the wrong choices bring us to the right places<br />*We all need second chances. This isn't a perfect world. I am not a perfect person. I have failed a lot. I have tried a lot too.<br />*Each new day is a blank page in the story of your life. The secret is in turning that blank page into the best chapter you possibly can<br />*When something bad happens you have three choices. You can either let it define you. Let it destroy you. Or you can let it strengthen you.<br /><br />I love you to the moon and back my girl. To the moon and back.<br />You and I will overcome this. My prayer is that it happens sooner than later.<br /><br />MIJ - I love you. Always have. Always will. Forever<br /><br /><br />Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-31967482253942519022010-10-30T10:09:00.001-06:002010-10-30T10:09:50.853-06:00November 2<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TMxDT3Uag1I/AAAAAAAAAZU/90xCx9oxnmI/s1600/1029102327a-790854.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TMxDT3Uag1I/AAAAAAAAAZU/90xCx9oxnmI/s320/1029102327a-790854.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533872050677646162" /></a></p>My favorite celebration day!<br>Do you celebrate?Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-20880169765270892082010-10-26T10:46:00.007-06:002010-10-26T11:59:45.812-06:00Exciting times my friends<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Last night we added to our collection.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TMcIiJ6k94I/AAAAAAAAAZE/eKH_xbijLjQ/s1600/045.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TMcIiJ6k94I/AAAAAAAAAZE/eKH_xbijLjQ/s400/045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532400050118129538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The kids thought it fitting that our pumpkin family had the same number of members as our human family.<br />And we needed a dog.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TMcRtGru3MI/AAAAAAAAAZM/_gqstTWzaws/s1600/080.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TMcRtGru3MI/AAAAAAAAAZM/_gqstTWzaws/s400/080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532410133833768130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">So there we are. The five of us.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wondrous things were going on under the cover of dark.......... </span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">While we slept this happened</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TMcIh4JfKcI/AAAAAAAAAY8/KY0rEvWMBWY/s1600/086.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 346px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TMcIh4JfKcI/AAAAAAAAAY8/KY0rEvWMBWY/s400/086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532400045348825538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I started the morning with a happy dance.<br />Squeeeeeeeeeeee!<br />Took pictures.<br />Looked on-line at the cameras the road department has placed<br />on top of the passes.<br />Saw that the roads had been plowed.<br />7" of snow. SEVEN.INCHES!!!!<br />Did many more happy dances.<br />Went down into the <span style="font-style: italic;">crawl space</span> and retrieved my ski boots.<br />To the ski shop I must (<span style="font-size:85%;">read, get to</span>) go!<br /><br /><br /></span></div>Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-26522488506533136272010-10-13T09:49:00.009-06:002010-10-18T09:21:54.169-06:00Flying away<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TLuUOyWv_SI/AAAAAAAAAY0/TR9pSW4R-HM/s1600/Mid+Oct.%2710+033.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TLuUOyWv_SI/AAAAAAAAAY0/TR9pSW4R-HM/s400/Mid+Oct.%2710+033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529175949283687714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Yesterday, Saturday, our family went out.<br />Off the mountain and into town.<br />We were soaking up the last bits of warmish weather.<br />When we left the house at 10am the temperature read 37-degrees F.<br />Not so warm.<br />The geese were rallying their flocks as they were circling the grain fields<br />setting their compasses for the long flight south.<br /><br /><br />We adjusted our flight north in search of adventures ~<br /><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">It was one of the last of the farmers market's for the season.<br />A time that always makes me sad.<br />Saying goodbye to those who I see weekly and feed my family off their land.<br />I will miss the ritual of market.<br />And the fresh food.<br />The farmers are tired and ready for winters rest.<br />They deserve to put their feet up and take a break.<br />I guess I am ready to put my boots on and do some sliding,<br />as I may have mentioned, I <a href="http://http//softrockmama.blogspot.com/2009/03/thursday-and-friday.html">love</a> skiing!<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TLuUOpUyHgI/AAAAAAAAAYs/-dAoT6EYCF8/s1600/Mid+Oct.%2710+109.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TLuUOpUyHgI/AAAAAAAAAYs/-dAoT6EYCF8/s400/Mid+Oct.%2710+109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529175946859519490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Harvest celebrations were being held at many different farms.<br />We choose one and went to partake in the celebration.<br />Our local farmer had hauled in his pumpkin harvest and was selling them.<br />They were in four different sections - Small($5), Medium($6), Large($7) and Extra Large($8)<br />We choose two from the large section, carried them out to the car and went on to enjoy the rest of the festivities at the farm.<br />Which included wagon hay rides, live bluegrass music, bobbing for apples, pumpkin carving-for those so inclined, apple pressing and of course fresh apple cider, bee keepers collecting fresh honey(free samples!) and pony rides.<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TLuUOKEYAiI/AAAAAAAAAYk/mw17haUtQsE/s1600/Mid+Oct.%2710+113.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TLuUOKEYAiI/AAAAAAAAAYk/mw17haUtQsE/s400/Mid+Oct.%2710+113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529175938469200418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Even with the wrath of heavy frost I still find beauty in this sunflower.<br />It's head turned down. Sun at her back.<br />Sad to see Summer and her warmth go.<br /></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TLuUNyx0TwI/AAAAAAAAAYc/bPA3qPsD7HY/s1600/Mid+Oct.%2710+122.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TLuUNyx0TwI/AAAAAAAAAYc/bPA3qPsD7HY/s400/Mid+Oct.%2710+122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529175932217347842" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The precision with which the bees create is amazing.<br />Mind blowing.<br />Perfect.<br />Tasty!<br /><br />Great day together as a family.<br /><br /></span>*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Fall has firmly planted her feet on my valley.<br />You can feel her presence in the way the grasses along the ponds blow west, instead of their summer lean towards south,<br />in the way colors are starting to show on the mountain sides<br />and tree lined river banks.<br /><br />We have had our first nights of heavy frost.<br />Frost that left us scrambling in the morning to find the ice scrapers,<br />ice scrapers that will now reside inside the vehicles<br />till late May or early June.<br />Frost that made all things green and growing in the garden a desperate<br />shade of blackish-green.<br />And all that was looking up for so long, now looks down to the earth<br />in such a longingly way.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Our first sightings of snow on the peaks<br />have brought great joy and excitement.<br />These are just the type of clouds that we will be needing<br />to fill our mountains with snow.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TLcS-w8XDLI/AAAAAAAAAYM/9NRx09plGXk/s1600/10-10-10+018.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TLcS-w8XDLI/AAAAAAAAAYM/9NRx09plGXk/s400/10-10-10+018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527907937119833266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The light shows and productions that have been put on by the<br />clouds have been stunning.<br /><br /></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">But before winter slides in for the next five months,<br />a little fall action</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TLcS-l7hM5I/AAAAAAAAAYE/b9Um3U5MxN0/s1600/10-10-10+021.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TLcS-l7hM5I/AAAAAAAAAYE/b9Um3U5MxN0/s400/10-10-10+021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527907934163514258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Heading into town for an evening game<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TLcS-E-6dFI/AAAAAAAAAX8/zmzc0-SqTGE/s1600/10-10-10+001.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TLcS-E-6dFI/AAAAAAAAAX8/zmzc0-SqTGE/s400/10-10-10+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527907925319382098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A beautiful setting for a soccer game<br /><br /><br /></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TLcS9zeT3iI/AAAAAAAAAX0/2DcT0-27eo0/s1600/10-10-10+008.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TLcS9zeT3iI/AAAAAAAAAX0/2DcT0-27eo0/s400/10-10-10+008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527907920619232802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Our #10 in motion<br /><br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TLcS9rzvk3I/AAAAAAAAAXs/ZtuTmhUTUNQ/s1600/10-10-10+012.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TLcS9rzvk3I/AAAAAAAAAXs/ZtuTmhUTUNQ/s400/10-10-10+012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527907918561645426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">As we headed home from the game, the sun had set<br />and the temperature had dropped<br />to a balmy 38 degrees.<br /><br />I'm glad we only have two more week of this.<br />It is freaking cold standing on the side lines.<br /><br /><br /></span></div>Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-1274456287737440212010-10-08T09:31:00.008-06:002010-10-11T11:37:59.242-06:00Wanderings<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK9LxeXBjmI/AAAAAAAAAXk/XVOPJxU5oEY/s1600/577.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK9LxeXBjmI/AAAAAAAAAXk/XVOPJxU5oEY/s400/577.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525718581142195810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span>I wonder how many garments this machine<br />sewed in the years it was used?<br />The patterns laying on the table were labeled <span style="font-style: italic;">Trousers.<br /><br /><br /></span></span>This summer one of our family adventures was to an abandoned town.<br />Left amazingly in tact.<br />I was overwhelmed with strong urges to back<br />the truck up and start loading.<br />There were so many treasures.<br />Of course, I did not.<br /><br />I was in awe by the sense of place.<br /><br />As if one day everybody just decided to get up and leave.<br />Taking very little.<br />What struck me and really blew me over was the respect that has been shown by all of us strangers who have walked through their lives and <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>been blessed to peak back into a simpler time,<br />and left it there.<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK9LwTvaaLI/AAAAAAAAAXc/-2nQDqLhnDY/s1600/574.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK9LwTvaaLI/AAAAAAAAAXc/-2nQDqLhnDY/s400/574.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525718561111828658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">How many people made love on this bed,<br />took a sip of water during the night,<br />relieved themselves?<br /><br />This was a hotel/boarding house for the workers in the area<br />The rooms were tiny and the walls were thin.<br />B said the wood slats were less than one half inch thick.<br />Apply cloth wall coverings to each side and that was it.<br />No insulation. I can't imagine the cold in the winter.<br />Imagine conversations and the eves dropping one could do.<br /><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK9Lu8UwBeI/AAAAAAAAAXU/Zr7_5t9qzl0/s1600/559.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK9Lu8UwBeI/AAAAAAAAAXU/Zr7_5t9qzl0/s400/559.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525718537646114274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">I loved the feel of this kitchen.<br />I could imagine the hustle and bustle of busy meal times.<br />But wondered out here, out in the middle of the mountains where did they get there ingredients.<br />What did they cook?<br />I would imagine wild game was on the menu quite often.<br />Did they have huge gardens and preserve?<br />How often would they take the horses and mules into town to<br />re-ration?<br />That trip must of taken at least two days in and two days back.<br />At the very least!<br />It took us, on modern roads with our spiffy modern truck,<br />just over 2 hours to drive from the closest re-ration town to here.<br />Back in the day when this town was in full swing there were no roads! Only trails on which four legged animals moved what ever was needed or produced in the town.<br /><br />Pffft, simpler times my ass.<br /><br /><br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Which brings us to these....</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK9LuFW9FMI/AAAAAAAAAXM/nvloAiA3hdM/s1600/522.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK9LuFW9FMI/AAAAAAAAAXM/nvloAiA3hdM/s400/522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525718522891408578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: courier new;">...why is it that OLD outhouses always have side by side seats?</span><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">Was it common to want to take a piss or a crap next to someone.<br />Makes no sense to me.<br />But a least the seats are pink(ish)!!<br /></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK9GFpEBIsI/AAAAAAAAAXE/Hv-NS6-7MuA/s1600/520.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK9GFpEBIsI/AAAAAAAAAXE/Hv-NS6-7MuA/s400/520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525712330542883522" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier new;">My boy wanted to go in all the tunnels.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK9GEPleSaI/AAAAAAAAAW8/Co-AdQU8W7g/s1600/483.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK9GEPleSaI/AAAAAAAAAW8/Co-AdQU8W7g/s400/483.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525712306524015010" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">Lots of conversations were had about safety, how things deteriorate and how to make wise choices in choosing whether to do something.<br />Or not.<br />So we compromised and came to the agreement that looking in the first few feet on some was okay.<br />He loved it!<br /><br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK9GByGeLqI/AAAAAAAAAW0/984diQjEPo0/s1600/472.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK9GByGeLqI/AAAAAAAAAW0/984diQjEPo0/s400/472.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525712264249618082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: courier new;">Not a bad view from the couch</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK9GBXETFXI/AAAAAAAAAWs/tz6KJMCuZis/s1600/470.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK9GBXETFXI/AAAAAAAAAWs/tz6KJMCuZis/s400/470.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525712256992744818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: courier new;">B and Miss I checking out a house<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK9GAL7L4_I/AAAAAAAAAWk/9tfd99cGCpY/s1600/464.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK9GAL7L4_I/AAAAAAAAAWk/9tfd99cGCpY/s400/464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525712236821865458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: courier new;">The kids were impressed at how close the mine shaft was to the house.</span><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">We figured it was the best way to protect the miners work and investment.</span><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;"></span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK88ezj_l4I/AAAAAAAAAWc/NHqo7LPLtTA/s1600/456.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK88ezj_l4I/AAAAAAAAAWc/NHqo7LPLtTA/s400/456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525701767741806466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: courier new;">Stream Crossings, old tar paper, moss and summer shoes.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier new;">B checking out a tunnel that was started<br />but for some reason was abandoned</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK88eg7h6FI/AAAAAAAAAWU/KrUAUFqi1hY/s1600/446.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK88eg7h6FI/AAAAAAAAAWU/KrUAUFqi1hY/s400/446.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525701762740250706" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK88eDZ9f1I/AAAAAAAAAWM/YRu5yx-mCp8/s1600/454.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK88eDZ9f1I/AAAAAAAAAWM/YRu5yx-mCp8/s400/454.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525701754814824274" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">Every time we saw a new place we stopped<br />and got out and looked around.<br />Made up stories of who lived here.<br />Why they chose this remote area.<br />Why they left.<br /><br />We had a great day!<br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK88dg-YRXI/AAAAAAAAAWE/fq_WAYodaSQ/s1600/447.JPG"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK88dfqounI/AAAAAAAAAV8/gWwFQCAPKtE/s1600/443.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TK88dfqounI/AAAAAAAAAV8/gWwFQCAPKtE/s400/443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525701745221089906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: courier new;">Then we headed home.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">Thankful for all of our modern amenities.</span><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">Especially the toilets</span>!!<br /></div>Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-53575772308976245242010-10-06T09:08:00.006-06:002010-10-06T11:21:45.157-06:00Three Things ~ In my opinion<div style="text-align: center;">1. <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Beer should be consumed fresh</span>.<br /></div><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo">Straight from a brewery. <span style="font-size:85%;">I would include wine, but grapes are not known to grow very well at my elevation. But would love to be able to buy that too! </span><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo">Every town, village, community, borough whatever you call your surrounding place, lets say within 38 miles, should have a local brewer. Then hopefully you will have a farmer or a local co-op with a way of procuring locally grown barley (malted of course) and if possible fresh local hops.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo">No cans. No freaking glass! No pasteurization shit. Just the fine elixir of life. Pure and real. In half gallon refillable containers. 2 or 3 at a time. Or as one dear lady does, fill up at least 6 every week. One of each on tap. All the girls moan and run when they see the milk crates bearing empty growlers.</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo">And for crap's sake no damn fruit in the brew!!! {<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:lucida grande;" >Though just to be honest, I once asked the brewer to brew a </span><a style="font-style: italic; font-family: lucida grande;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut">coconut </a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:lucida grande;" >porter....let that sink in.....it was incredible, that is if you like coconut, which I do VERY much and if you like porter which I'm not so fond of. But ohhh my that is one fruit that once a year in very skilled hands is a treat to partake of.</span></span>}<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKyRSqcoXjI/AAAAAAAAAU4/38KVKirf95E/s1600/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDA2NzctMjAxMDEwMDYtMDkwNi5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-701654"><img style="width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKyRSqcoXjI/AAAAAAAAAU4/38KVKirf95E/s320/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDA2NzctMjAxMDEwMDYtMDkwNi5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-701654" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524950592694804018" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:85%;" >[Oh, and I like stickers]</span><br /><br />And for reality and truth....I have full growlers in my refrigerator right now. Sitting along side a few cans and glass bottles of <span style="font-style: italic;"></span>beer.<br /> One does NOT take glass of any sort on the river, so cans are used. Often.<br /><br />***********************************************************************<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Our neighboring community scarecrows were the best</span>!!<br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKydD_N9erI/AAAAAAAAAVA/3ZQ28lc2sF4/s1600/016.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKydD_N9erI/AAAAAAAAAVA/3ZQ28lc2sF4/s400/016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524963534711913138" border="0" /></a><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This won Peoples choice</span></span><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">And why wouldn't it!??!!!</p><p style="text-align: center;">The sign reads - All in a day's work!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Fantastic! Well done local vet folks. Well done!<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">3.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> My home is beautiful</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKyk1TOuA3I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/B8YH2dU4JS8/s1600/420.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKyk1TOuA3I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/B8YH2dU4JS8/s320/420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524972078478787442" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">One of the views from my <span style="font-style: italic;">backyard</span><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKyk1nCF9NI/AAAAAAAAAVY/EWh0n1JhnQI/s1600/528.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKyk1nCF9NI/AAAAAAAAAVY/EWh0n1JhnQI/s320/528.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524972083794539730" border="0" /></a><br />Summer discoveries with the family<br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKyk1FGPRPI/AAAAAAAAAVI/4ci3uan7uYo/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKyk1FGPRPI/AAAAAAAAAVI/4ci3uan7uYo/s320/008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524972074685121778" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">A view of my daily drive, thought not normally wrapped in a lovely blanket of fog.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Do not swerve. Look down. Meet oncoming traffic, because if you do, one of you is going to backing up. Very.Carefully!<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKyk2L0cFJI/AAAAAAAAAVg/tRog-pNkMVU/s1600/1225.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKyk2L0cFJI/AAAAAAAAAVg/tRog-pNkMVU/s320/1225.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524972093669381266" border="0" /></a><br />My favorite roof line<br />From my favorite barn<br />Proportions are just right, so is the dilapidation<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-12106868786268679902010-10-04T09:24:00.003-06:002010-10-04T09:31:40.035-06:00{this moment}<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKnyabpNIyI/AAAAAAAAAUw/n5iwZENb4GY/s1600/883.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKnyabpNIyI/AAAAAAAAAUw/n5iwZENb4GY/s400/883.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524212953857729314" border="0" /></a>*****************************************************************<br />This is where I long to be<br /></div>Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-32593321068335039542010-10-01T01:47:00.000-06:002010-10-01T01:50:18.660-06:00Tonight's Sunset<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKWSu5s9-RI/AAAAAAAAAUo/73455f25hYs/s1600/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDA2MjQtMjAxMDA5MjQtMTk0My5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-718661"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKWSu5s9-RI/AAAAAAAAAUo/73455f25hYs/s320/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDA2MjQtMjAxMDA5MjQtMTk0My5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-718661" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522981852500850962" /></a></p>Spectacular<p>Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerrySoft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-4542158203591610682010-09-30T09:22:00.004-06:002010-09-30T10:45:37.128-06:00Now is the time<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This week has been one of the nicest of the summer.<br />Even though it is now fall.<br />Our summer weather was <span style="font-style: italic;">odd</span>.<br />And now our fall weather is odd - in a nice way.<br />The sun has decided to shine her smiling face and warm us up as we prepare for the cold.<br /> Even though I would like to see the snow accumulating up in the mountains. I know it will come.<br />I'm trusting Mama Nature to do it up right this winter and give us a glorious spanking of snow on a daily basis. Please.<br /><br />Out of respect for all of Miss Nature's efforts in boggling our minds with exceptional days, beautiful colors and nights that still beg for windows to be left open so she can wander in and out of rooms gathering a last glimpse before we shut our windows to Winter, I have been playing...<br /><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKSueubop-I/AAAAAAAAAUg/4PbMiqQdMnA/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKSueubop-I/AAAAAAAAAUg/4PbMiqQdMnA/s400/004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522730885946320866" border="0" /></a><br />B and I took out the motorbikes and cruised 178 miles<br />Smiles and smiles all on dirt roads through the mountains<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKSueBqKUnI/AAAAAAAAAUY/m9Dg6kNFn18/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKSueBqKUnI/AAAAAAAAAUY/m9Dg6kNFn18/s400/010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522730873927651954" border="0" /></a>I took a day trip to a lake with a new friend.<br />No kids. Gosset champagne. Sunny skies. Warm gentle breeze.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKSudp3SrTI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/6cBlwKOEydI/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKSudp3SrTI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/6cBlwKOEydI/s400/007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522730867540274482" border="0" /></a>She laughed when she saw me taking these pictures, but not as hard as when I pulled out the glassware. Silly girl thought we would be enjoying our beverage out of paper cups.<br />Ewwwwwww ~ Indeed NOT!<br />I may have been born and lived my whole life here in the sparse world of amenities and refinement. But I know how to have a good time and that we did.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKSudE-6zXI/AAAAAAAAAUI/wJvsdjWzA7A/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKSudE-6zXI/AAAAAAAAAUI/wJvsdjWzA7A/s400/004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522730857640152434" border="0" /></a><br />The trees are just starting to show us their colors.<br />Disrobing just for us.<br />I tried not to stare, but that was hardly possible.<br />Such beauty all around us.<br />Each time we rounded another bend in the road and caught a new glimpse of the lake we remarked about the beauty of where we live.<br />Stunning really. Living here in this general place my whole life I forget to take it all in on a daily basis and revel in the place that is my home.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKSucUcUEdI/AAAAAAAAAUA/qFw3f3tbJU0/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TKSucUcUEdI/AAAAAAAAAUA/qFw3f3tbJU0/s400/001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522730844610105810" border="0" /></a>We sat for a long time talking and sitting in comfortable silence listening to the 'waves' lapping at the shore. I made mental notes to bring the family here next summer. Many times. It is so worth the drive.<br />We ate lunch at a great little dive restaurant with a quirky menu and an even more interesting wine list.<br />Made a quick stop into a brewery. Had the worst flavored beer I have ever tried. I just don't understand the whole fruit in beer crap. I'll take hops. Lots of them, please.<br /><br />On the drive home got stuck for just under and hour as the brilliant ranchers moved several hundred head of cows across the highway (2 lanes) and then proceeded to have to chase several juveniles who had decided that they would skip out of the herd.<br />Perhaps on a Wednesday at 4:30pm is NOT the time to do this. There isn't a whole hell of a lot of rush hour traffic, but I'm thinking 1o:30 in the morning when school buses are not trying to take kids home and folks are not trying to get home from town might be a better option. Just saying. I'm no rancher, but...<br />This nutty mayhem resulted in my missing of my boys soccer game and my friend being very late to pick up her boy from his sitters.<br />Thankfully we were laughing the whole time. Not much else we could do. Getting all pissy wouldn't have helped the cows cooperate any better. So we had fun.<br /></div>Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-20352820277742580442010-08-31T07:32:00.009-06:002010-08-31T08:43:22.174-06:00Fall is nearly here....then comes WINTER!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TH0Gg9Os7xI/AAAAAAAAATw/ETLus8cGfNM/s1600/IMG00390-20100826-1643.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 416px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TH0Gg9Os7xI/AAAAAAAAATw/ETLus8cGfNM/s400/IMG00390-20100826-1643.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511568682233163538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">{ my boy heading up the trail}<br /><br /></span>This summer we have spent many hours walking trails, riding bikes, floating rivers, climbing rocks, sitting stream-side, going to the lake and best of all being together.<br />It has been fun to have the both kids at an age where they can walk into the mountain lakes, ride for miles and we all have fun.<br />The complaining is very minimal.<br />Which is SO nice.<br />Makes me want to get up early pack up our packs with food, water and GO.<br /> I like going.<br />A lot.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TH0GRe3-p6I/AAAAAAAAATo/p2YUvauD45E/s1600/IMG00392-20100826-1645.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TH0GRe3-p6I/AAAAAAAAATo/p2YUvauD45E/s400/IMG00392-20100826-1645.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511568416386754466" border="0" /></a><br />On this particular day we headed up a trail for a walk, it was only a few miles into our destination so Chaco's were the footwear needed instead of heavy duty hiking boots. Plus we needed water worthy shoes, for we were headed to the most amazing natural water slides.<br />Well, maybe not the <span style="font-style: italic;">most</span> amazing.<br />I have seen photographs of natural water slides on tropical islands. And those, with their warm water, SMOOTH rocks and tropical flowers blooming, must be most amazing.<br />But for us and where we live, we were excited to go slide down bumpy granite slabs of rock and splash into icy cold pools.<br />On a hot day and after a 3 mile hike they sure seemed amazing to me.<br />Or maybe that was the nips of Sauza while trekking up the trail.<br />Who knows.<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TH0GQ3ye7LI/AAAAAAAAATg/rjCL7S6aQ6I/s1600/IMG00390-20100826-1643.jpg"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TH0GQXQgx4I/AAAAAAAAATY/2c3havriNzU/s1600/IMG00391-20100826-1645.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TH0GQXQgx4I/AAAAAAAAATY/2c3havriNzU/s400/IMG00391-20100826-1645.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511568397162301314" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">What fun we had!<br />In the midst of all the fun, I forgot to take pictures of the water slides.<br />Oh, well.<br /><br />At least we didn't leave our sunglasses sitting on a bed of moss along side the trail.<br />The Boy was concerned for the person who had left them.<br />Sweet he is.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After we had all the cold water we could take, we headed down the trail towards home.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TH0FxA_1qOI/AAAAAAAAATQ/nRU7oqj2tYM/s1600/IMG00399-20100826-1649.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TH0FxA_1qOI/AAAAAAAAATQ/nRU7oqj2tYM/s400/IMG00399-20100826-1649.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511567858610841826" border="0" /></a>I love the contrast between the rocks on the trail and foliage of the trees.<br />Hard and cold. Soft and warm.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TH0Fl8BDlEI/AAAAAAAAATI/NqrEEMCX_g8/s1600/IMG00394-20100826-1646.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TH0Fl8BDlEI/AAAAAAAAATI/NqrEEMCX_g8/s400/IMG00394-20100826-1646.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511567668295210050" border="0" /></a>My trail gear...sun hat, backpack, water bottle, sun glasses and camera.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This summer has been great.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TH0FIygiYQI/AAAAAAAAATA/TBjlpW08X8o/s1600/IMG00398-20100826-1648.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TH0FIygiYQI/AAAAAAAAATA/TBjlpW08X8o/s400/IMG00398-20100826-1648.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511567167526691074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Thank you summer. We have enjoyed playing with you.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(I am starting to look forward to winter.....SKIING!!!!!)</span></span><br /></div>Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-38034552117361637202010-08-28T09:42:00.001-06:002010-08-28T09:42:59.036-06:00Remember when I<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/THkug2aruCI/AAAAAAAAASo/36TiS7UcM9Y/s1600/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAzODUtMjAxMDA4MjUtMTM1MS5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-779037"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/THkug2aruCI/AAAAAAAAASo/36TiS7UcM9Y/s320/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAzODUtMjAxMDA4MjUtMTM1MS5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-779037" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510486760962635810" /></a></p>said that there were no forests fires.<br>Well, we now have several.<br>Great. Let the sneezing and watering eyes begin.<br>Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerrySoft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-49016965478302419802010-08-26T20:11:00.002-06:002010-08-26T20:53:08.847-06:00Thursday Sunset<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/THce6XktclI/AAAAAAAAASg/DNJu8qP61SE/s1600/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDA0MDMtMjAxMDA4MjYtMTk1OS5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-713540"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/THce6XktclI/AAAAAAAAASg/DNJu8qP61SE/s320/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDA0MDMtMjAxMDA4MjYtMTk1OS5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-713540" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509906657220325970" border="0" /></a></p>Laundry on the line.<br />Sun setting across the valley.<br />Beautiful.<br />What a spectacular way to end a fine day.<p>We took in another hike up into the mountains today. Splashed in the icy waters and hung out.<br />Maybe pictures later, who knows.</p><p><br /></p>Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-14823470788757266812010-08-26T08:41:00.006-06:002010-08-26T10:34:35.274-06:00On belay? Belay on. Climbing! Climb on.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/THaUNiTDvHI/AAAAAAAAASY/In2GasSqWm0/s1600/IMG00370-20100824-2141.jpg"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/THaEQrRWq_I/AAAAAAAAASQ/KCN3W5V-5jc/s1600/IMG00364-20100824-2129.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/THaEQrRWq_I/AAAAAAAAASQ/KCN3W5V-5jc/s320/IMG00364-20100824-2129.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509736616162667506" border="0" /></a><br />After they braved the 40 minute drive up the side of the mountain. Navigated all of the switch-backs and managed to park their cars...<br />We asked them to walk out to the overlook and hang out till we started the wedding.<br /><br />The topic at hand...where was the groom??!?<br /><br />Of course, I knew.<br />I was smiling.<br /><br />I knew that 70 feet below the ledge, my man was roping up*, getting ready to make his final climb as a single man. His good friend JB had surprised him by making the trip from the east coast to belay* him on our wedding day.<br />B was surprised. I was delighted*.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(* B had wanted to<span style="font-weight: bold;"> solo</span> the climb that day, meaning climb up with no ropes. No protection.<br />I said "what the hell are you thinking????!!!!!!!!!!!! No way in HELL are you doing any such thing!"<br />Then, I quickly got on the phone and enlisted help from his climbing partners)</span><br /><br /><br />I know many of the activities B loves involve risk. A lot of risk.<br />I'm okay with that.<br />I was <span style="font-weight: bold;">not</span> okay with that kind of risk on our wedding day.<br />Nope, I'm an odd one that way.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After what seemed like an eternity, this is what everybody saw.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(And when my snot started flowing)</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/THaD_mC5yWI/AAAAAAAAASI/80iE8ix58y8/s1600/IMG00362-20100824-2127.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/THaD_mC5yWI/AAAAAAAAASI/80iE8ix58y8/s400/IMG00362-20100824-2127.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509736322702100834" border="0" /></a><br />His Grandmothers wanted to kill him and smother him with kisses all at once.<br />I was proud and anxious to have him next to me.<br />We had told no one of this plan, the climb.<br />People freaked out, but in a good way.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/THaUNiTDvHI/AAAAAAAAASY/In2GasSqWm0/s1600/IMG00370-20100824-2141.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/THaUNiTDvHI/AAAAAAAAASY/In2GasSqWm0/s400/IMG00370-20100824-2141.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509754154400332914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">B in a tux, harness, shoes and a chalk bag = SEXY!</span></span><br /><br /><br />Our wedding day is still discussed and talked about by all who were there.<br />It was all rather unusual, but then so are B &amp; I.<br />We like it that way.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-size:85%;">This one is for you <a href="http://www.eleanorfromthecommentbox.blogspot.com/">Eleanor</a>, thanks for asking!</span></span>Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-15267790157281487122010-08-25T11:51:00.004-06:002010-08-25T12:59:06.741-06:00Okay, so I can't count<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/THVYKr3FAqI/AAAAAAAAASA/vXm-iRSu8Jk/s1600/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAzNjctMjAxMDA4MjQtMjEzNS5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-798392"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/THVYKr3FAqI/AAAAAAAAASA/vXm-iRSu8Jk/s320/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAzNjctMjAxMDA4MjQtMjEzNS5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-798392" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509406659753345698" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo">(a peek at our wedding day) (14years + 1 day)</p><p class="mobile-photo"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >On the 16th I said only 9 days left. Should have been 8 days. Must have not been using both hands to count on. Geesh. [Perhaps I should rethink this home schooling thing]</span><br /></p><p class="mobile-photo">For us it was the perfect setting. On an overlook's edge, looking out into the wilderness.</p><p class="mobile-photo"> A place where we fell in love.<br /></p><p class="mobile-photo">A place where I worked harder than any other job. InMyLife!!</p><p class="mobile-photo"><br /></p><p class="mobile-photo">See the ledge behind us, right below my elbow...B climbed up that to me.<br /></p><p class="mobile-photo">I know. <span style="font-style: italic;">I know!</span> Awesome.</p><p class="mobile-photo"><br /></p><p class="mobile-photo">I should show you B in his tux, climbing harness and shoes...just coming over the ridge. My favorite moment of the wedding.<br /></p>Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-55621308136120668102010-08-24T15:54:00.009-06:002010-08-26T11:24:46.316-06:00Tears have dried - Snot is gone - Let's celebrate!!Fourteen years ago this morning, I was sobbing.<br />My eyes and nose were leaking in the most unfortunate of ways.<br />Not a cute, <span style="font-style: italic;">I'm nervous and getting married</span> cry.<br />Oh no.<br />A snot dripping, tears streaming, body shaking and mascara running messy sob.<br /><br />I was standing on the ledge of a mountain surrounded by the beauty of nature and having this little melt down in front of 40 of our family members and closest friends.<br /><br />We were in the middle of our wedding.<br /><br />I was scared shitless.<br />Excited beyond words.<br />But so very mixed-up.<br /><br />I was not fearing marriage.<br />But all that I <span style="font-style: italic;">may be</span> passing by. All of the <span style="font-style: italic;">loss.</span> All of the unknown.<br /><br />B stood there beside me. Holding me. Not having to say a thing.<br />With his presence I knew that this unknown I(we) was embarking on would be okay.<br />I wanted to be a part of it. I was excited for the journey.<br />I was Terrified! Yes, with a capital T<br /><br />This is what I knew;<br />- The love B gave was extraordinary (<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">and still is, I might add</span></span>)<br />- I wanted no other<br />- Things would work themselves out<br />- B was my dream of a man<br />- With B, I felt safe, loved and secure in myself<br /><br />So, why the gut wrenching tears?<br />Perhaps a healthy system of checks and balances for my brain?<br />I'm still not exactly sure.<br /><br />This is what I know now;<br />- 14 years later the love B gives to me and to our children is still extraordinary<br />- I still want no other<br />- Relationships require more work than I ever imagined<br />- I could have NOT asked for a better father for my children<br />- I still freak about all the what could haves, but now its only in my head<span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br />- Most, if not all, of the things I feared <span style="font-style: italic;">missing out on</span> are going to be even better to experience with a little age and wisdom under my belt, instead of psychedelics<br />- B keeps getting sexier<br />- Having kids at a younger age turned out just fine<br />- I want to grow all old and wrinkled with B, sit on the porch, reminisce and drink good beer<br />- There is not a right way to do marriage...we found what works and rolled with it<br />- I am not always right (sneezecoughbullshit)<br />- Fighting is okay, as long as resolution follows<br />- Insight without action is useless<br />- To have a partner, for me, is better than not<br />- Living with other humans is hard<br />- Communication is imperative<br />- Love does not conquer all - but hard fucking work and sheer determination helps. A lot.<br />- I am one lucky woman<br /><br />Happy Anniversary B. I love you.<br />You still make butterfly's dance in my stomach.<br />When you kiss me, I melt.<br />Our two kidders are very lucky to have you as their Daddy.<br />You can make the most unpleasant, fun.<br /><br /><br />Things you have shown me to appreciate; (in no special order)<br />* Onions, raw<br />* Hottest of hot sauces<br />* Riding motorcycles (even when I refuse to ride behind, and insist on my own)<br />* Sunsets and sunrises<br />* Hard work<br />* Family<br />* Beer :)<br />* Sex<br />* Good food<br />* Mountain biking<br />* Rock climbing<br />* Being outside, digging into nature and loving all of it, ticks and all<br />* Wonders of homemade sauce<br />* Friendships<br />* Importance of wilderness and the freedom the mountains bring<br />* Love can be hard but oh so worth working for......hello, 14 years!!!!<br />* Drunks suck<br />* Nothing worth having comes easy<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> (damn)<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">* Skiing in the deep powder is the bomb<br />* The kids joined our lives, we didn't join theirs....lets keep doing what we do and bring them along. Brilliant advice that man gives, smart he is!</span><span style="font-size:100%;">!<br /><br />Okay so the tears are starting to spring and the snot is starting to run. Time to wrap this up.<br /><br />Love him!<br /><br /></span></span>Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-41707064927055548182010-08-21T17:01:00.000-06:002010-08-21T17:03:05.271-06:00This is where I am...<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/THBbKtY12JI/AAAAAAAAAR4/plOgT_HmIKs/s1600/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAzMzEtMjAxMDA4MjEtMTYzNi5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-785272"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/THBbKtY12JI/AAAAAAAAAR4/plOgT_HmIKs/s320/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAzMzEtMjAxMDA4MjEtMTYzNi5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-785272" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508002583814723730" /></a></p>...right now!<br>4miles in at a hanging mountain lake. <br>Serene<p>Doesn&#39;t seem right to have cell service in the wilderness.<br>Kinda fun.<br>Totally unethical. <br>Gotta power down.<br>Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerrySoft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-47272044583624183112010-08-20T09:34:00.002-06:002010-08-20T10:02:02.558-06:00Life ~ Love ~ Memories<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TG6g0MDUQxI/AAAAAAAAARw/a0KmjEWTCP4/s1600/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDE1NjYtMjAxMDA3MTItMTExNi5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-744615"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TG6g0MDUQxI/AAAAAAAAARw/a0KmjEWTCP4/s320/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDE1NjYtMjAxMDA3MTItMTExNi5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-744615" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507516212769473298" border="0" /></a></p>{picture from the mid 80's. Somewhere on the east coast, summer vacation - B is lovingly strangling his grandmother}<br /><br /><br />My husbands grandmother is dying.<br />His heart is breaking. As is ours.<br />We are separated by thousands of miles. A road trip was made cross country so he could hug on her and in a way, say goodbye. Though that was not spoken of.<br />He lived with his grandparents for the last two years of high school, as his family had to relocate due to work.<br />The bonds that he shared with his grandparents, gramma especially is amazing.<br />To watch them was a beautiful thing.<br />They both claimed they were telepathically in touch. I can recall SO many times in the middle of a conversation or dinner, B would suddenly stop and excuse himself to go call her.<br /><br />It was just a feeling.<br /><br />Beautiful, really.<br /><br />I never knew my grandparents and am always in awe of their relationship.<br /><br />Today he called me in tears, he is just so sad.<br />I want to swallow him up in my love and take all his pain away.<br />But I am not that powerful....so we walk through the forest of sadness. Looking for glimpses of the rainbow, finding blessings in the path of life.<br />Finding the good in the midst of loosing one so cherished.<br /><br />These times are sad.<br />Memories are wonderful.<br /><br />I feel so blessed to have know and loved her for the past 14 years.<br />My in-laws have been most amazing during this process. They moved back to NY last fall. Put their life on hold to be with her, to keep her out of an institution and in her home. What an example of selfless love they have shown. They have been amazing.<br /><br />Life &amp; Death.<br />Both normal. Both hard.<br />Both can bring gifts.Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-86201137631593034302010-08-18T06:52:00.001-06:002010-08-20T10:42:15.970-06:00Wednesday Sunrise<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TGvYTFegdAI/AAAAAAAAARo/Vy9MMNRpnFQ/s1600/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAxMTMtMjAxMDA4MDUtMDY0OS5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-740660"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TGvYTFegdAI/AAAAAAAAARo/Vy9MMNRpnFQ/s320/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAxMTMtMjAxMDA4MDUtMDY0OS5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-740660" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506732791789810690" border="0" /></a></p>I love it when the sun shows itself off in such spectacular fashion.<br />Good morning!Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-82998572916654137432010-08-18T06:45:00.001-06:002010-08-23T10:42:09.314-06:00Tuesday Hike<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TGvWiMeYbVI/AAAAAAAAARg/C3T5lMa9q4s/s1600/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAyMjAtMjAxMDA4MTItMTQxMy5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-788518"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TGvWiMeYbVI/AAAAAAAAARg/C3T5lMa9q4s/s320/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAyMjAtMjAxMDA4MTItMTQxMy5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-788518" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506730852343115090" border="0" /></a></p>The light was beautiful.<br />Kids were full of energy.<br />It was one of those perfect afternoons.Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-866113721210274832010-08-17T20:32:00.003-06:002010-08-17T20:53:16.753-06:00Happenings of another kindSooooooo - we have been on this journey. A journey towards home.<br />Buying a home. <br />Our first.<br />I remember talking about this journey with my dear Aunt Sondra (she is fantastic. I will tell you about her some time) whilst I was pregnant with the youngest. 7 short years ago. We are still traveling on the path. Persistent we are.<br /><br />Today was the 'day' we put in the 5th offer on the 5th house....biggest difference, this home is not a short sale.<br />So, in theory things should move MUCH faster. We will see. We should have a reply by Thursday 9am.<br /><br />Holy Shit!!!!<br /><br />Excitement muddled with a fresh smidgen of fear.<br />A good fear.<br />Not a bury my head in the sand kind of fear.....no, a giddy scariness. Like the first time I jumped off the bridge into the river. Like the first time I headed out on a extended road trip by my self.<br /><br />Fingers Crossed!<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Odd random note - last Thursday night while tripping my brains out and watching Michael sing, life became suddenly clearer. As if the sands have settled, oh yes, still available to be stirred up at any time ~ but I don't have to. Or I can. My Choice.<br />Fantastic!<br /></span></span>Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-51118664092993530382010-08-17T20:28:00.003-06:002010-08-17T20:32:12.642-06:00Happenings<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TGtFZyEturI/AAAAAAAAARY/IbCSvD0zBA4/s1600/IMG00009-20100726-2119-735340.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nDKJJzWLqso/TGtFZyEturI/AAAAAAAAARY/IbCSvD0zBA4/s320/IMG00009-20100726-2119-735340.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506571278631156402" border="0" /></a></p>Sunsets that are blowing my mind....and there are NO forest fires at the moment.<br />Shocking.<br />Both the beauty of sunsets and lack of smoke.<br />Lovely really.Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-89332538516864690572010-08-16T21:25:00.004-06:002010-08-24T18:05:17.450-06:009 days from nowAnniversary draws near.<br />14 years.<br />Lots of hard work, tons of laughs &amp; smiles. 2 fantastic kids.<br />Love that is ever growing. Surprise being planned.<br />Excitement<br /><br /><br /><br />Post Edit....damn if I could count. I would say 8 days from now.....geeshSoft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-89244741849489503472010-07-29T10:19:00.005-06:002010-07-29T10:47:38.462-06:00Team Me 1 - Team fear 0Hello. I'm back.<br />Thought of writing often...then thought of other things.<br />I do want to want to leave a trail of sorts, a record of our lives.<br />When I think back to my childhood memories are a struggle.<br />I want our kids to have memories. Traditions. Joy. Family. I must create this.<br />But having none...and now waiting 13.75 years to start any, I find my self at a loss. Trying to figure out what traditions i want for our family. How? When? What?<br />It is times like this when I would have normally preferred to my 'stick my head in the sand' so to speak and wait for time to pass. But I'm afraid that another 13 years will pass and both kids will have moved out and on to their lives and I will still be sitting wishing.<br />I'm changing.<br />I'm checking in, coming off the bleachers and getting into the game of life. Playing full out. Balls to the wall, as the saying goes.<br />I'm scared.<br />Scared of failure.<br />But....<br />Failure is not an option for me.<br />Neither is being stagnate.<br />Participating is. Perfection is not required.<br />Let the games begin.<br /><br />Ohh, and there is a wedding at the farm this weekend. I'm so excited for my friend.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Gratitude X5</span><br /> *Floating the river with the family<br /> *Summer time thunder storms<br /> *My family - quirks and all<br /> *Riversong<br /> *SunsetsSoft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-22010086761716564122010-02-18T13:13:00.005-07:002010-02-18T13:58:39.051-07:00This is what we ate...<div align="center">{I don't know why everything is all squished up...i put spaces in between. It looked all nice, then I hit publish and see a bunch of squished together lines.....rrrggghh)</div><br />or should I say served. There was no sitting for hours. But lots of speedy walking.<br /><br />I wanted to share the menu that we came up with. It was much more challenging than I thought.<br />This took (oh, the hardships) four meetings starting back in December to get all the pairings set and the beer brewed. We tasted all sorts of different foods and drank every beer we had on tap and thought of ones we could brew, to see what went best. Finally we got everything to please the brewer's palate, the caterer's palate, and mine. Then we started brewing some specialties. And pulled one beer out of a Bourbon barrel to let mellow. Three of the beers we poured that night are part of our flagship line and three of them were specialties. (I am editing the beer names)<br /><div align="center">************************************************************</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div>Here it is...<br /><br /><div align="center"> <em><span style="font-size:130%;">Our Brewing Company's Valentine's Day Beer Feast</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:130%;">5 Courses ~ 5 Beers</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">February 14th ~ 6:30 pm</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">B****** Blonde (an american style hefe)</span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Smoked and Spicy Adobo Shrimp</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">(these were served with homemade tortillas strips and cilantro)</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">P.........********* Pale (Pale Ale)</span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Local Apple and Caramelized Sweet Onion Peirogie's</span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">IPA (India Pale Ale...my beer of choice, most of the time)</span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Braised Pork Belly with Tangerine &amp; Thyme Marmalade</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Oatmeal Stout</span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Aged Stilton, Roasted Beet, and Candied Pecans over fresh Micro Greens</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Barrel-Aged Barleywine</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Flourless Dark Chocolate Torte with Plum Compote and Fresh Whipped Cream</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>(</em>oh my goodness this pairing was out. of. this. world. GOOD!)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">***********************************************************************************</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">I am trying to get some photos ready, but editing them is proving to be a bit more tricky than I thought. And of course that night I didn't think of taking Internet safe/privacy saving photos. Or, great food photos for that matter.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">The feed back I have gotten so far has been great. Check out what on of my more challenging customers wrote me...</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><em>"...What an awesome time T and I had last night. The brew was outstanding (as always), the company was great, and the atmosphere was perfect...I don't know how you guys will be able to top that performance. Thanks again for a great evening!!!!! ~ </em></span><em><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">M"</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="left">I was so excited! No complaints. This dear man can always find something to criticize. So to hear niceness was really cool. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I think we will do it again. In a couple months.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div>Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116312977484844633.post-26638451170434839262010-02-15T00:45:00.001-07:002010-02-15T00:45:42.116-07:00The evening was great!<br>Everything went off without a hitch.<br>Details later.Soft Rock Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376149944837664189noreply@blogger.com0